AHT ribbon heating is a thin electric system for compatible floor finishes. It can provide primary heat when the fitted output meets the room’s heat loss. Mats start at £50; plan the complete floor construction and controls before ordering.
Compare the selected products and their complete installation requirements for the same room.
| Feature | EkoBuild Ribbon | Traditional Cable | Water-Based Pipes |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary heat source | Subject to room heat-loss design | Subject to room heat-loss design | Subject to room heat-loss design |
Element spacing | Flat ribbon heating layout | Product-specific cable layout | Product-specific pipe layout |
Profile thickness | 1.8mm mat; allow for all floor layers | Check the complete build-up | Check the complete build-up |
Subfloor screed required | Dry build-ups possible; check floor finish | Dry and screeded products exist | Dry and screeded products exist |
Operating temperature | Flooring and control limits apply | Flooring and control limits apply | Flooring and control limits apply |
Heat-up time | Depends on floor and starting temperature | Depends on floor and starting temperature | Depends on floor and starting temperature |
Compatible floor products | Use approved flooring and build-up | Use approved flooring and build-up | Use approved flooring and build-up |
Running fuel | Electricity; thermostat controlled | Electricity; thermostat controlled | Depends on the heat source |
Installation | Mat laying and qualified electrical work | Product-specific fitting and electrical work | Pipework, controls and heat-source installation |
Retrofit suitable | Check floor height and heating design | Check floor height and heating design | Check floor height and heating design |
Warranty | AHT certificate and purchase terms apply | Check the chosen product’s terms | Check the chosen product’s terms |
Quick rules for fitters and DIYers. Get these right and the system lasts decades.
The full one-pager (printable A4, do's & don'ts, manufacturer warranty information):
Download the full guide (PDF)Ribbon heating can provide a primary heat source when the complete installation is designed for the room. Confirm the subfloor, floor finish and available heated area before choosing the system.
Confirm the floor manufacturer’s heating approval, thermal resistance and temperature limit. The correct floor build-up depends on the chosen finish.
Outdoor and snow-melt applications need equipment specifically approved for that use. Ask Russell before selecting a product.
Low-energy and zoned, so it pairs perfectly with solar and battery, heat your home on power you've already generated.
No boiler, no screed, no central-heating rebuild. Do one room or the whole house.
Ask about your space →They're picturing old wire-cable systems. The Ribbon Heating System is a different technology entirely, here's the honest difference.
Ribbon can provide primary heating when the usable output from the fitted mats meets the room’s calculated heat loss at the permitted floor temperature. Around 70–80% useful coverage is a planning aim, not a pass/fail test. Confirm the complete heating design before removing existing heating.
Warm-up time varies with the floor construction, starting temperature, control settings and room conditions. Initial warmth at the surface is different from heating the whole room; a demonstration time is not a guaranteed result for your installation.
Warm-up time depends on the floor build-up, starting temperature, fitted heating and room conditions. Ask about the response you can expect with your chosen flooring.
Reducing heat loss reduces the heating a room needs. Insulation, sensible controls and an appropriate floor build-up matter; the thermostat’s on-time varies with actual conditions.
Meet Russell White, whose experience includes living with ribbon heating and renewable energy in his own home.
Russell White combines experience of flooring, underfloor heating and renewable-energy systems. He uses ribbon heating in his own eco home and helps customers plan the right floor build-up, heating layout and controls for their property.
And he didn't stop at selling it. Russell built his own 360 m² eco house heated entirely by the Ribbon system, five bathrooms, wet rooms, stone floors, laminate and plush carpet, all warmed by the same system. Between the solar, the wind and the heat recovery, his own place runs at close to nothing.
EkoBuild supplies ribbon heating and helps customers plan the complete floor construction and controls. Russell draws on his experience with underfloor heating and renewable energy in his own home.
See the electricity cost for your chosen heating area, tariff and usage.
Enter your installed mat area and electricity tariff to calculate a usage scenario.
Calculated at 150W/m² while drawing power. Your thermostat switches the heating on and off; scheduled hours do not mean continuous power use. Actual demand depends on heat loss, insulation, weather and your chosen room temperature. This is an electricity calculation, not a prediction of savings or payback.
Design My System →Browse the 0.5m and 1m Ribbon, thermostats, insulation and accessories, or design your exact room first.
Everything you need to make the right decision.
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